Material handling apparatus

ABSTRACT

Material handling apparatus having a seat which is mounted on a swinging arm for movement from a forwardly-facing position to a rearwardly-facing position.

United States Patent [1 Holopainen MATERIAL HANDLING APPARATUS [76]Inventor: Vaino J. Holopainen, East Sullivan,

[22] Filed: Nov. 19,1973

[21] Appl. No.: 416,829

[52] US. Cl. 296/65 R; 180/77 S; 297/240; 297/349 [51] Int. Cl B60n 1/02[58] Field of Search 180/77 S; 296/65 R; 297/240, 349; 214/140 [56]References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Horn 180/77 S July8, 1975 Hill297/349 Peterson 180/77 S Primary Examiner-Robert J. Spar AssistantExaminerLawrence J. Oresky Attorney, Agenl, or Firm-Norman S. Blodgett;Gerry A. Blodgett 57] ABSTRACT Material handling apparatus having a seatwhich is mounted on a swinging arm for movement from a forwardly-facingposition to a rearwardly-facing position.

11 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures PATENTEU JUL 81975 SHEET 3 BF 4 L Q m @E 1MATERIAL HANDLING APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION It has becomecommon practice to provide material handling apparatus, particularly forearth-moving operations, which consists of a tractor to which aremounted various attachments. For instance, it is common practice toprovide a heavy duty tractor with a front end loader at one end and witha back-hoe at the other end. The efficient use of apparatus of this kindrequires that the operator face in the foreward direction in order tomanipulate the tractor and to use the front end loader. He must face tothe rear in order effectively to operate the back-hoe. Furthermore, hemust move from one position to the other quite frequently during theworking day. For instance, if he is digging a trench with the back-hoe,he must face forwardly while moving the vehicle forward and then he mustface rearwardly in order to operate the back-hoe; he must alternatethese operations every few minutes in order to produce an elongatedtrench. In order to facilitate this operation, some material handlingapparatus has been provided with a seat which may be converted from aforwardly-directed condition to a rear wardly-directed condition. Oneway of accomplishing this has been to mount the seat pivotally on thetop of a vertical post in the center of the tractor with a detentassociated with the pivoted action to lock the seat in one position orthe other. A similar arrangement has the seat mounted on the transversehorizontal hinge so that it may be flipped from one position to another,the operator sitting on the portion of the seat which was the back inone position and having as his back rest the portion of the seat whichwas used as the seat in the other position; such a construction is shownin the patent of Holopainen No. 2,784,768. Both of these constructionssuffer from the shortcomings that the ideal seat position for operatingthe front portion of the apparatus is spaced a considerable distancefrom the position in which the rear portions of the equipment areoperated. Attempts have been made to compensate for this by providingfor sliding between the upper and lower parts of the seat, but theamount of sliding adjustment that is possible is not great enough totake care of the distance between these two ideal positions.Furthermore, the use of adjusting tracks is frustrating to the operatorand a source of constant maintenance difficulty in the seat because ofthe presence of dust and dirt in the atmosphere. These and otherdifficulties experienced with the prior art devices have been obviatedin a novel manner by the present invention.

It is, therefore, an outstanding object of the invention to proividematerial handling apparatus having a seat which may be easily moved fromone optimum position of operation to another such position.

Another object of this invention is the provision of material handlingapparatus having a two-position seat, which is simple in constructionand which is capable of a long life of useful service with a minimum ofmaintenance.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of materialhandling apparatus having a seat which can be moved and turned at thesame time by apparatus which cannot be disabled by the presence of dustand dirt.

It is another object of the instant invention to provide materialhandling apparatus in which the operators seat is mounted in a narrowaisle in which the seat is rotatable and movable longitudinally alongthe aisle, the apparatus being arranged so that the seat does its majorturning at the ends of the longitudinal passage along the aisle, so thatthe operator does not strike his knees against the sides of the aisle.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of materialhandling apparatus having a seat which can be sold and mounted onexisting apparatus and accessory.

It is a further object of the invention to provide material handlingapparatus having a two-positioned seat which can be mounted on a flatdeck without interrupting the decks surface with protusions andattachments.

It is another object of the instant invention to provide materialhandling apparatus having a two-positioned seat in which the seat can bemoved easily by the operator from one position to the other without hisleaving the seat.

With these and other objects in view, as will be apparent to thoseskilled in the art, the invention resides in the combination of partsset forth in the specification and covered by the claims appendedhereto.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In general, the invention has to do with amaterial handling apparatus having a vehicle body with a horizontal deckextending longitudinally of the body, and having a pair of spacedparallel fenders extending longitudinally of the body, one fender beinglocated on each side of the deck. The seat is mounted above the deckbetween the fenders and a support arm is pivoted at one end to a fenderfor swinging movement in an angle of approximately in a horizontal planebelow the level of the seat. The other end of the arm is pivotallyattached to the bottom of the seat at the center front thereof. Means isprovided to cause the seat to rotate through an angle of when the armswings through its angle of 90.

More specifically, the means also serves to cause the seat to move asubstantial distance longitudinally, as it pivots through its angle of180 from a forwardly-direct position where the operator has access tothe driving controls of the vehicle to a rearwardly-directed position atwhich the operator has access to the handling controls of the vehicle.

Furthermore, the means consists of a control arm pivotally connected atone end to the same fender to which the support arm is pivoted, but at apoint spaced forwardly a substantial distance from the connection of thesupport, the other end of the control arm being pivotally connected tothe bottom of the seat as the center of one side.

The support arm is located a substantial distance above the deck and isthe sole support for the seat with the weight of the operator.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The character of the invention,however, may be best understood by reference to one of its structuralforms, as illustrated by the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of material handling apparatus embodyingthe principles of the present invention,

FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the apparatus taken from thefront end,

FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the appara tus taken from arear quarter.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of the apparatus taken fromabove, and

FIGS. 5, 6, and 7 are somewhat schematic plan views of the apparatusshowing the seat in three different po sitions.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring first to FIG. 1,wherein are best shown the general features of the invention, thematerial handling apparatus, indicated generally by the referencenumeral 10, is shown as consisting of a vehicle body 11 in the form of atractor to the front end of which is con nected a front end loader 12and to the rear end of which is attached a back-hoe 13. The operator I4is shown in place on a seat 18.

Referring now to FIGS. 2, 3, and 4, it can be seen that the apparatus isprovided with a flat horizontal deck 15, which extends longitudinally ofthe vehicle body and has fenders 16 and 17. The fenders 16 and 17 arespaced and in parallel and they extend longitudinally of the vehiclebody on either side of the deck to define an aisle between them. A seat18 is mounted above the deck l5 between the fenders l6 and 17. The seatis carried on a swingable support arm 19 and movable from aforwardly-directed position (as shown in FIG. 2) where the operator hasaccess to the driving controls 22 of the vehicle to arearwardly-directed position (as shown in FIG. 4) where the operator hasaccess to the operating controls 23.

The forwardly-directed position is shown in FIGS. 3 and 7, while therearwardly-directed position is shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. In theforwardly-directed position the operator also has access to the controlsfor the front end loader l2 and in the rearwardly-directed position, theoperator by using the operating controls 23 controls the back-hoe 13.

As is evident in FIGS. 2, 3, and 4, the supporting arm 19 is pivoted atone end to the fender 16 for swinging movement through an angle ofapproximately 1r in a generally horizontal plane below the level of thebottom of the seat 118. The other end of the arm is pivotally attachedto the bottom of the seat at the center front thereof. Means including acontrol arm 21 causes the seat to rotate through an angle of 180 whenthe arm swings through its angle of 90.

The control arm 21 also serves to cause the seat to move a substantialdistance longitudinally as it pivots through its angle of 180 from theforwardly-directed position (where the operator has access to thedriving controls 22 of the vehicle) to the rearwardly-directed position(where the operator has access to the handling controls 23 of thevehicle). A detent mechanism 24 is provided in association with thesupport arm 19 to lock it selectively at either end of its swingingmovement. The detent mechanism is provided with an apertured horizontalquadrant plate 25 which is fastened to the fender l6 and underlies theportion of the arm which is connected to the fender. Avertically-movable detent pin 26 is mounted in the arm and is located tobe accessible to the operator for movement in and out of the aperturesin the plate 25. Its lower end is tapered for ease of entry into thequadrant plate apertures.

The control arm 21 is pivotally connected at one end to the same fender16 to which the support arm 19 is pivoted, but at a point spacedforwardly a substantial distance from the connection of the support arm.The support arm 19 is connected at the fender 16 for movement about thevertical pivotal access defined by a pivot pin 27, while the control armis connected to the fender 16 for pivoting about a vertical axis definedby a pivot pin 28. As is most evident in FIG. 2, the support arm 19 andthe control arm 21 are located in different vertically-spaced planes sothat they do not in with one another during swinging. As has beenpreviously stated, the point of attachment of the support arm 19 to theseat 18 (indicated by a bushing 29 integral with the end of the arm) islocated at the center of the seat adjacent the forward edge. As isevident in FIGS. 5, 6, and 7, this bushing or point of attachment of thesupport arm to the seat always remains at one side of the control arm 21during the movement of the seat from one position to the other. Thecontrol arm 21 is provided with a threaded coupling 31 for adjustment ofits length. The fenders 16 and 17 are provided with forwardly-directedheadlights 32 and rearwardly-directed lights 33.

As is evident in the drawings, the support arm 19 is located asubstantial distance above the deck 15 and is the sole support for theseat 18 and for at least a major portion of the weight of the operator14. As is best evident in FIGS. 2 and 3, the seat 18 consists of anupper portion 35 and a lower portion 34, the arms 19 and 2] beingconnected to the lower portion 34 and the operator occupying the upperportion 35. There is a slidable connection between the two portions foradjustment longitudinally of the vehicle body and detent means isprovided to lock the two portions in a selected position of relativeadjustment. A vertical pintle 36 extends downwardly from the lowerportion 34 of the seat and resides in the bushing 29, which is integralwith the end of the support arm 19. As is best evident in FIG. 3, themain portion of the support arm 19 extends at an obtuse angle to theaxis of the pintle 35 and at an acute angle to the horizontal surface ofthe deck 15.

The operation of the invention will now be readily understood in view ofthe above description. Referring to FIG. I, the operator 14 is shown inthe seat 18, fac ing forwardly of the vehicle body 11 for operating thefront-end loader 12. He also has available to him in that position, adriving control 22 for the vehicle, thus permitting him to move thevehicle backwards and for wards. as is particularly necessary whenoperating a front-end loader. When the operator faces rearwardly tooperate the back-hoe 13, the forward and rearward movement of thevehicle does not ace quite as frequently. Nevertheless, in using aback-hoe it is quite often necessary to advance the vehicle forwardly insmall increments to make the back-hoe operative with different parts ofthe ground being worked on. This situation takes place when the back-hoeis being used to form an elongated ditch. In this situation the operatormust face rearwardly one moment to operate the backhoe and then a fewminutes later face forwardly to run the vehicle forward a few feet. Aneffective operation of the present invention permits the seat 18 to bemoved from the forwardly-directed position to the rearwardly-directedposition without difficulty. FIGS. 2 and 3 sh w the forwardly-directedposition of the seat 18, where the operator has access to the drivingcontrols 22 of the vehicle. It also shows the way in which the fendersl6 and I7 lie on opposite sides of the deck 15, so that an aisle isformed, This aisle provides suitable operating area for the swinging oftheseat. FIG. 4 shows the rearwardly-directed position of the seat 18where the operator has access to the operating controls 23 of thevehicle, particularly for those operating the back-hoe 13. FIGS. 5, 6,and 7 shown, particularly well, the manner in which the seat ismanipulated. In FIG. 7 the seat 18 is shown in the forwardly-directedposition with the detent pin 26 engaging a foreward pin on the quadrantplate 25. When the operator wishes to change the position of the seat,he pulls up on the detent pin 26, so that it is free of its aperture,and he pushes backwardly on the seat. As the seat begins to swingrearwardly about the axis of swing of the support arm 19, this swingingmotion also causes the seat to rotate about a vertical axis passinggenerally through its center of gravity due to the operator's action ofthe control arm 21. it operates in such a way that, when the swingingaction on the arm l9has gone even a few degrees, the seat has alreadyrotated 90 (as shown in FIG. 6), so that the operator now faces the sideof the vehicle and the vertical surface of the fender 17. In this position the seat rotates at least 45 before it again begins to rotate aboutits center of gravity another 90 to occupy the position shown in FIG. 5.It can be seen, then, that a large part of the rotation of the seattakes place during the first part of the swing and during the last partof the swing, so that as the operator's knees moved past the fender 17,he is moving generally parallel to the fender so that he does not banghis knees against the fender. Because of the longitudinal slidingadjustment available between the upper and lower parts of the seat, hecan adjust the center of gravity of his body and of the seat relative tothe support arm l9. Minor adjustments in angularity of the seat can bebrought about by use of the threaded coupling 31 in the control arm 21.When the seat reaches the rearwardly-directed position shown in FIG. 5,the detent 26, which is springedbiased into a lower position, drops intothe rearward aperture in the quadrant plate 25.

It can be seen that, by use of the construction of the presentinvention, it is possible to provide a seating arrangement in which theforwardly-directed position is displaced longitudinally a considerabledistance from the rearwardly-directed position. Since the operator cando this without physical discomfort to hinself, he is more likely, whenoperating the back-hoe 13, to move frequently into theforwardly-directed position to adjust the vehicle plate relative to thetrench. This is a safety feature, because he will then not try tooverreach with the back-hoe. He is encouraged to make the change ofposition when it is necessary, because of the uncluttered nature of thedeck 15, due to the fact that the sole support for the seat is thesupport arm 19 and it rises at a considerable angle to the horizontal.The deck, therefore, is clear for him to walk the seat around from oneposition to the other. Furthermore, there is little danger of hisstriking his knees against the fender or being otherwise physicallycramped because of the unusual geometric motion of the seat.Furthermore, there are no sliding joints involved in the motion, whichslidingjoints could cause maintenance problems because of dust and dirtin the atmosphere. in a commercial embodiment of the invention, the seat18 with its related arms 19 and 21 are formed as an integral unit withthe fenders l6 and 17 and the deck and the unit is sold for attachmentto a conventional tractor.

It is obvious that minor changes may be made in the form andconstruction of the invention without departing from the material spiritthereof. It is not, however, desired to confine the invention to theexact form herein shown and described, but it is desired to include allsuch as properly come within the scope claimed.

The invention having been thus described, what is claimed as new anddesired to secure by letters Patent is:

I claim:

1. Material handling apparatus, comprising:

a. a vehicle body having a substantial horizontal deck longitudinally ofthe body,

b. a pair of spaced, parallel fenders extending longitudinally of thebody, one fender being located on each side of the deck,

c. a seat mounted above the deck between the fenders,

d. a support arm pivoted at one end to a fender for swinging movementthrough an angle of approximately in a horizontal plane below the levelof the bottom of the seat, the other end of the arm being pivotallyattached to the bottom of the seat at the center front thereof, and

e. means to cause the seat to rotate through an angle of when the armswings through its angle of 90, the means also serving to cause the seatto move a substantial distance longitudinally as it pivots through itsangle of 180 from a forwardlydirected position were the operator hasaccess to the driving controls of the vehicle to a rearwardlydirectedposition where the operator has access to handling controls of thevehicle, the means consisting of a control arm pivotally connected atone end to the same fender to which the support arm is pivoted, but at apoint spaced forwardly a substantial distance from the connection of thesupport arm, the other end of the control arm being pivotally connectedto the bottom of the seat at the center of one side.

2. Material handling apparatus as recited in claim 1,

wherein the support arm and the control arm swing in vertically-spacedplanes, so that they do not interfere with one another during swinging.

3. Material handling apparatus as recited in claim 1,

wherein the point of attachment of the support arm to the seat alwaysremains at one side of the control arm during the movement of the seatfrom one position to the other.

4. Material handling apparatus as recited in claim I,

wherein,

the control arm is provided with a threaded coupling to permit itslength to be adjusted.

5. Material handling apparatus as recited in claim 1,

wherein the seat consists of upper and lower portions, the operatoroccupying the upper portion and the arms being connected to the lowerportion, there being a slidable connection between the portions foradjustment longitudinally of the vehicle body, and means to lock theportions in a selected position of relative adjustment.

6. Material handling apparatus as recited in claim 1,

wherein detent means is provided in association with the arm to lock thearm selectively at either end of its swinging movement. 7. Materialhandling apparatus as recited in claim 6,

wherein the detent means consists of a horizontal apertured quadrantplate fastened to the fender and underlying the portion of the arm whichis connected to the fender and of a vertically movable detent mounted inthe arm and located to be accessible to 10 the operator for movement inand out of the aperture in the plate. 8. Material handling apparatus asrecited in claim 1,

wherein 8 the control arm to the seat is adjacent the center of a sideedge. 9. Material handling apparatus as recited in claim I,

wherein the fenders are provided with headlights, some directedforwardly and some directed rearwardly. 10. Material handling apparatusas recited in claim 1,

wherein the support arm is located a substantial distance above the deckand is the sole support for the seat and the weight of the operator.

11. Material handling apparatus as recited in claim 1,

wherein a vertical pintle extends downwardly from the seat and the saidother end of the support arm is provided with an integral bushingfitting around the pintle, wherein the main part of the support armextends at an obtuse angle to the axis of the pintle and an acute angleto the deck.

1. Material handling apparatus, comprising: a. a vehicle body having asubstantial horizontal deck longitudinally of the body, b. a pair ofspaced, parallel fenders extending longitudinally of the body, onefender being located on each side of the deck, c. a seat mounted abovethe deck between the fenders, d. a support arm pivoted at one end to afender for swinging movement through an angle of approximately 90* in ahorizontal plane below the level of the bottom of the seat, the otherend of the arm being pivotally attached to the bottom of the seat at thecenter front thereof, and e. means to cause the seat to rotate throughan angle of 180* when the arm swings through its angle of 90*, the meansalso serving to cause the seat to move a substantial distancelongitudinally as it pivots through its angle of 180* from aforwardly-directed position were the operator has access to the drivingcontrols of the vehicle to a rearwardly-directed position where theoperator has access to handling controls of the vehicle, the meansconsisting of a control arm pivotally connected at one end to the samefender to which the support arm is pivoted, but at a point spacedforwardly a substantial distance from the connection of the support arm,the other end of the control arm being pivotally connected to the bottomof the seat at the center of one side.
 2. Material handling apparatus asrecited in claim 1, wherein the support arm and the control arm swing invertically-spaced planes, so that they do not interfere with one anotherduring swinging.
 3. Material handling apparatus as recited in claim 1,wherein the point of attachment of the support arm to the seat alwaysremains at one side of the control arm during the movement of the seatfrom one position to the other.
 4. Material handling apparatus asrecited in claim 1, wherein, the control arm is provided with a threadedcoupling to permit its length to be adjusted.
 5. Material handlingapparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the seat consists of upper andlower portions, the operator occupying the upper portion and the armsbeing connected to the lower portion, there being a slidable connectionbetween the portions for adjustment longitudinally of the vehicle body,and means to lock the portions in a selected position of relativeadjustment.
 6. Material handling apparatus as recited in claim 1,wherein detent means is provided in association with the arm to lock thearm selectively at either end of its swinging movement.
 7. Materialhandling apparatus as recited in claim 6, wherein the detent meansconsists of a horizontal apertured quadrant plate fastened to the fenderand underlying the portion of the arm which is connected to the fenderand of a vertically movable detent mounted in the arm and located to beaccessible to the operator for movement in and out of the aperture inthe plate.
 8. Material handling apparatus as recited in claim 1, whereinthe seat is padded and provided with a vertical back rest, wherein theseat has a generally rectangular horizontal portion with a front edge, arear edge from which the back rest extends, and two side edges, whereinthe point of attachment of the support arm to the seat is adjacent thecenter of the front edge, and wherein the point of attachment of thecontrol arm to the seat is adjacent the center of a side edge. 9.Material handling apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the fendersare provided with headlights, some directed forwardly and some directedrearwardly.
 10. Material handling apparatus as recited in claim 1,wherein the support arm is located a substantial distance above the deckand is the sole support for the seat and the weight of the operator. 11.Material handling apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein a verticalpintle extends downwardly from the seat and the said other end of thesupport arm is provided with an integral bushing fitting around thepintle, wherein the main part of the support arm extends at an obtuseangle to the axis of the pintle and an acute angle to the deck.